How terrorism is guiding transportation choices in northern MX
Matamoros, MX Canon Powershot A560
In thinking back on my recent trip to Matamoros, MX I was exposed to a chilling reality that people of this region have come to live with. Namely drug related terrorism. It has effectively changed every day life for residents of this border town in a major way. A former co-worker of mine works at the manufacturing plant I visited and in talking to him and other native Mexicans I got a sense of what everyday life is really like. Just days before I visited, the shoe-in candidate for governor of the state of Tamaulipas was gunned down, along with body guards, sending a resounding message about positive change: it's not happening anytime soon! Digging deeper, my ex coworker drives an Avalanche truck back and forth from Brownsville TX over the border daily. He recently requested a new vehicle to commute daily with: a clapped out minivan. This is one case. Another of his subordinates recently bought a Nissan sentra to replace the nice truck he is still paying for. The underlying theme here should be coming clear: drive a nice truck? You must be a drug dealer and/or member of a rival cartel. Another worker there said it's a sad time to be a Mexican citizen. I feel for these people first, because I've become good friends with a lot of them over the last couple years and also the humanist side of me.
Why do people have to live this way? I don't see any change coming either when high profile politicians are gunned down in broad daylight. The reality from a transportation enthusiasts point of view though is interesting when exploring the fact that simply surviving for fear of getting gunned down guides the transportation choice.
